By Malinda Seneviratne –
Malinda Seneviratne
The media loves Mervin Silva (Doctor). The controversial minister (‘maverick’ to some) can always be counted on for a juicy quote even when he’s not doing his best to conjure up a juicy story for the media. Silva is back. He has been re-appointed as the ruling party’s Organizer of the Kelaniya electorate and few will doubt that he won’t be up to the kinds of antics that made him the media’s darling for quite the wrong reasons, of course.
People might recall that he was removed from that post following association with a suspect in the murder of Hasitha Madawala. Although the ruling party has on numerous occasions pledged to inquire into the minister’s conduct, there’s no evidence that any investigation was ever carried out. He has never been disciplined.
Forget the United People’s Freedom Party and its internal disciplinary issues; this individual has flouted the law in the full face of the media and in the presence of law enforcement authorities on many occasions. He was never arrested. That is an affront to the Rule of Law and moreover a scar on the democratic values that the Government is required and pledges to uphold. All this is known. The party doesn’t seem to be ruffled by the history. As for the people, they backed him well at the last election although he had a pretty sordid history even then. What kind of self-inflicted scar that people’s decision was is something that voters need to reflect on. History shows that they probably would not. Troublesome, to say the least.
Upon his return he has said, perhaps by way of explaining party leniency, that the President loves him. It was reported in one newspaper in even stranger terms: ‘The President is in love with me!’ Perhaps it is beneath the President’s dignity to clarify, deny or in any other way comment on the uttering of a maverick politician, but the question of indulgence remains.
Love for Mervin or even a look-away indulgence of the man is an indictment on party, party leader and a voting public. What it means that there’s a general adoration of all things that can be detrimental to democracy and rule of law.
President Rajapaksa has not declared love for Mervin Silva. He hasn’t said he loves the maverick politician in return. He is not the kind of leader who believes that punishment always works, after all during his tenure over 11,000 members of a terrorist organization were reintegrated into society after giving them marketable skills to boot, a kind of measure that would horrify for example those tasked to ensure the national security of the United States of America. He has not declared abhorrence and that can be understood – it is not his style.
Punishment and abhorrence aside, there’s absolutely no logic in reinstating this individual as party organizer which clearly means that the party which the President heads believes he has the credentials to represent the UPFA in Kelaniya. If that’s not a sign of bad, bad, bad party thinking, what is?
The media didn’t get its monthly dose of Mervin-quotes and some may lament that. Society in general and the cause of democracy in particular were spared Mervin’s ‘love’, though. Perhaps it was just too good to last.
Ben Dover / January 26, 2014
Good heavens… Malinda speaking for justice and fair play and against Mr (Dr) Vermin Silva!!! How cool is that?
Or is this more like one of those Rajapakse goondoos to discredit the good Mr (Dr), just like it is sanctioning the ‘execution by media’ of that other fine gentleman Mr Kehelmal Rambook Walla?
Hey ‘Mad’linda, if you are serious and want to play fair and by the rules, how about now starting a campaign in your next piece of shite, against those other perpetrators of vicious crimes in the country, committed with total impunity and regime sanction? Like what? Well, umm, like the Khurram Sheik assassin who is now in hiding and the massive security force cannot get to him? Like that other fellow Kudu Duminda who murdered Bharatha Lakshman (yeah the turn-coat Hiru-Knicker-less’s dad) in board daylight and in cold blood and continues to hold high government office, like the goon who sanctioned Lasantha Wicks’ cold blooded murder…. want more ‘Mad’linda?
Well I’m just too tired of this lick-spittle journalism to bother to document any more, I’ll leave that to other CT readers if they care to….!
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aratai / January 26, 2014
Malinda clean bowled by Ben.
:-)
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Sumith / January 26, 2014
Good reply Ben.
Milinda, you had forgotten how MaRa was using Mervin for his dirty works. Like cleaning up Rupavahini corporation so that MaRa can get rid of Mangala’s men and replace with his cronies.
How many time Mervin brought his thug army under MaRa’s instruction to help him.
MaRa cannot throw Mervin as a used condom. Mervin can vomit all dirty stuff against MaRa. So boss just keeping him quiet.
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SIRI / January 26, 2014
MS@,
with all respect,my question to you is:
if a party man has gone wrong, the particular person should be called for a disciplinary action ? Why is that your so beloved President dont even care of such actions when it goes for Mervin ?
This is not just one time, but several dozens of times sofar. Why ?
Besides, we wonder why you raise this question now ? Not in the past, where Mervin tied an innocent ones to trees not even considering the civilized human values in the society ?
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K.A Sumanasekera / January 26, 2014
Elections are all about winning votes.
If Mervyn is so unpopular, would he be able to get Kelaniya electorate to vote for the Govt?.
Has the UNP offered Mervyn a better deal?…
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Kutti Machan / January 26, 2014
It’s a no-brainer why MR is still tolerating Mervyn. Because he makes everybody else look good. Probably he got “rehabilitated” during his leave of absence.
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Douglas / January 26, 2014
Kelaniya needs a DEVADATTAYA. So MR has fulfilled that need. Why this cry? People will send him to our “AUGUST PARLIAMENT” to sit with other equals.
HIP,HIP HURRAY.
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kuveni / January 26, 2014
Malinda has found an “affront to the Rule of Law”, and even a “scar on democratic values”. What genius!! How did he do it!! What a Herculean effort!! We salute you, great Malinda.
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Sama / January 26, 2014
Mahinda will have to appoint guys to find his pieces in case this regime would fall down soon. Be careful man, u cant deceive the very same people again and again. This is just a warning, that every sane ones can feel it already now.
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Sama / January 26, 2014
It should be malinda. not mahinda… mahinda is not far from the fate of Gadaphi… as I feel.. but Malinda ^s future is torn.
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Carol A. Teldala / January 26, 2014
The quality of the Rajapakse regime will be defined in the future
in the manner they hobbknobbed with this despicable scoundrel. The
Rajapakses turning a blind eye to his many serious indiscretions has
made many people wonder if he has something under his hat that can
damage the Rajapakses – and hence their special treatment to him.
That this scum is in Parliament – and a Minister of sorts – will remain a disgrace in the history of our Parliament and public life.
C.A. Teldala
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Sulaiman / January 26, 2014
Wow- a clarion call for action. Unequivocal condemnation of the government and the president. Forthright journalism at its best. Not!
Praising Mahinda for his compassion – not a word about the 300k in prisons of whom 200k were released just before the presidential elections in 2010. That too was an act of compassion. Dragging the general through the streets was kindness too. The kindness in overlooking Srikandarajah more than 3 or 4 times for promotion.what kindness and fair play!
S
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Samanthi / January 26, 2014
Malinda,
Your bankrupt journalism has had you now focus on a Mervyn story..a no story! Please do not even claim you attended Royal College because you are just another useless bag of poop like Rajpal the laptop vendor.
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The Professional / January 26, 2014
“Upon his return he has said, perhaps by way of explaining party leniency, that the President loves him. It was reported in one newspaper in even stranger terms: ‘The President is in love with me!’ Perhaps it is beneath the President’s dignity to clarify, deny or in any other way comment on the uttering of a maverick politician, but the question of indulgence remains.”
For Managala Samaraweera to comment.
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MrRetort / January 26, 2014
How to loose Mervin and loose fun for big boss in a safe haven for the ACT
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Sama / January 26, 2014
Mervin is just assumed to be as a part of black box of the top leadership.
That means in other words, all the frauds that MR administration deliberately carried out sofar are known to him. In case, they would corner him, like a poisonous cobra, Mervin will work on a revengeful mode. Mervin is a notorious man from his background. He is not a person even to be appointed as a toilet cleaner to any civilized AREAS where the civilize get on.
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scott / January 26, 2014
Malinda, why this sudden enthusiasm with democratic values and the rule of law? Did you get another shiny laptop, this time from Ranil? You will of course give it away to one of your assistants. May be Ranil also gave you an interest free car loan.
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GambaraAththo / January 27, 2014
See, how can a man who got Education at a renowned Uni fall to this levels ?
Our sinhalaya can be the abysmal race on this earth.
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GambaraAththo / January 27, 2014
From what I happened to read on the electronic media, PS members have vehemently been protesting against in case Mervin would be reappointed as the party organizer to Kelaniya.
Though several articles write about his LOVE and the reappointment of Mervin – akin to the previous actions that President himself took in term of Duminda Silva following Bharatha murder, nothing like acknowledgement of the current post has been made yet.
People of this country today – dont know whom to be believed. Asked whether the crime, bribery and other related cases have taken its end in terms of the far abusive creature – Mervin the silva yet, party leadership seems to just give evasive RESPONSES… like the files have been passed to the acting committee the like…
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Wera / January 30, 2014
Of course the president loves Mervin. He is the resident Sattampi Rala He is very indispensible and guards his position well from other rivals who would like to get his post. I cannot give you the defintion of the word since it can make his post be in violation of the rules. But it is available elsewhere on the internet.
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